BJP asks Himachal CM to come clean on Godfather issue

Shimla, Nov 28 (UNI) Accusing Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of shielding corrupt state government officials, the state unit of the BJP today asked him to clarify who former state ADGP B S Thind was referring to as ''Godfather'' in his letter to his son.

''The chief minister's statement that he was a godfather to every citizen of the state was an irresponsible one,'' party spokesman Rajiv Bindal said at a press conference here.

He said Mr Singh had to come clean on the issue since the former state ADGP had specifically hinted that he was referring to the chief minister.

Mr Thind in a recent letter to his son, had asked him to meet the ''Godfather'' who was in Dharamshala at that time and urge him to talk directly to the Home Minister for ensuring a bail for him, failing for which he would be suspended from service.

''Had the CBI not registered a case against Mr Thind for alleged irregularities in multiple loans on a single property in Punjab, he would have been the state's director general of police (DGP),'' Mr Bindal said.

He asked the chief minister to come clean with the identity of the Congress leader in the state who was tall enough to talk directly to the Home Minister and influence CBI proceedings against the police officer.

The state government also handed over the additional charge of law and order to Mr Thind, who was till that date ADGP (CID), after the CBI registered a case against him, he asserted.

UNI AS HS PB RK1905